William s



(No Model.)

W. S. THAYER.

DEVICE POR LOWERING .00PHNs- No. 31%,@42. Pltntedlune 71885.,

Attorney l IINTTED STATES WILLIAM S. THAYER, OF OWEGO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN J. VAN KLEEGK, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR LOWERING COFFINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,642, dated June 9,1885.

Application filed April 30, 1885.

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. THAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owego, in the county of Tioga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Lowering Oofns; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed ro drawings, making a part of this specification, and to letters and figuresof reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective view of the usual box for containing cofns when lowering them in the grave, said box embodying my invention; Figs.'2 and 3, detail views thereof.

The present invention has relation to certain new and 'useful improvements in the zo means for lowering cofns in the graves.

Previous to my invention it was common to provide means or devices secured to the sides of the coffin midway between the topand bottom thereofsuch as a hook or ring--and pro- 2 5 viding the ends of the lowering cords or ropes with devices at their ends for connecting them to said rings or hooks. The lowering cords or ropes being attached at the sides of v the cofins, when lowering it or after it had been low- 3o ered in the grave, it was difficult to readily detach the cordslor ropes from their fastenings without making noise, which is unpleasant to the ears of the mourners around the grave, and when raising the cords or ropes between the coflin and sides of the grave the fastenings or devices at the ends thereof would be liable to either strike against the side of the coffin or the side of the grave, and in the latter case knocking the pebbles or loose earth 4o down upon or against the coffin, thus making an unpleasant noise.

The object of the invention is to remove (No model.)

these difficulties by providing the coffin-box with loops at its sides and connecting the lowering-straps so that they will come above and across the top of the box, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

,In the accompanying drawings, A represents the ordinary wooden box which incloses the v coffin previous to lowering it in the grave. 5o To the sides of this box and near each end thereof are secured metal loops B,which project above the lid or top of the box, to serve as handles for convenience in carrying it. In the present case I have shown the loops B as rigid and having their upper part curved outward; but it is evident that the loops may be hinged to the sides of the box in any suitable manner and swung up in position for use.

The straps G are passed through the loops B and extend over the top or lid of the box instead of underneath it, as in the old way, thus enabling them to be readily and easily withdrawn after the box is lowered in thel grave,without the danger of the straps catching on anything under the box or in the grave.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A box for inclosing coffins, provided at its sides with loops projecting above the box, which also serve as handles, in combination with straps passed through the loop and across the top of the box, as a means for lowering the box in the grave, as and for the purpose set 75 forth.

In testimony that I4 claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. THAYER.

Witnesses:

H. CoRYDoN BROWN, THOMAS F. BRADY. 

